Buckles



April 4, 1961 L.. w. PETERS 2,977,655

BUCKLES Filed Oct. 18, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Al'l n qu elim wlmy NW 22a,INVENTOR.

L EO W. PE T E R S A BY Mil/umm ATTORNEYS L. W. PETERS April 4, 1961BUCKLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed OG'C. 18, 1956 FIC-.L10

FIGJ

INVENTOR.

LEO W. PETERS /aa and? ATTORNEYS L. W. PETERS April 4, 1961 BUCKLES 3Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG Filed Oct'. 18, 1956 1N VENTOR.

LEG W. PETERS ATTORNEY'S FIG.

threading of a beltrthereinto.

Uflid States Patent@ i@ BUCKLES Leo W. Peters, 42 4 N. Harvey` Ave.,OakIai-k, I ll. Filed oct. 1s, 1956,s'e1.1-1o.616, s2tsr 11 claims. (ci.244196) expensive to manufacture; being complicated in constructionand'operation; not holding the belt securely to properly withstand theforces which such a belt must be capable of withstanding; not beingquickly and easily releasable when a load is applied to the belt suchas, for example, when a person is suspended thereby in up-side-downposition; engaging the belt with which i-t is usedV so as Ytoundesirably wear and thereby weaken the I `now consider'tobe the bestmode in which I have conv from the present invention.

belt, or the like. It is an important object of my invention `toovercome such disadvantages.,

Another objectof my invention is to afford a novel buckle for seatbeltsand the like, which will not slip under the loads whichit must becapable of withstanding l in order to afford an effective safety beltunder allpractical conditions of operation.

A further object of my invention is to afford a novel buckle oftheaforementioned type which frictionally grips the belt in such amanner that the gripV on the belt is increased under load in a vnoveland expeditious manner.

Another `object of my invention isto afford aqnovel buckle of theaforementioned type which is quickly releasable in a novel andexpeditiousmanner.

Yet another object of my invention to afford such a novel buckle whichis quickly releasable-by the exertion of relatively little manuallyapplied force, even under loaded conditions. A further objectrof myinvention is .to afford a novel buckle ofthe aforementioned type which.is quickly1a nd 2,977,655 Patented 1 961 Another object of my inventionis to enable a novel quickly-releasable buckle of the aforementionedtype to embody a housing in a novel and expeditious manner.

Yet another object of my invention is -to enable a novel buckle of theaforementioned type to be afforded which embodies a housing constitutedand arranged in anovel and expeditious manner to afford ahandle forreleasing the buckle from such a belt.

A further object of my invention is to afford a novel buckle of theaforementioned type which isrelatively small in size. j' Y Anotherobject of my invention is to afford a buckle ofY the vaforementionedtype which may be readily and economically produced commercially andwhich is relatively simple and easy to operate, but is reliable andefficient in operation.v

Other andfurther objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claimsv and are .illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, byv way of illustration show the preferredembodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and whattemplated applying these principles; Other embodiments of the inventionembodying the same or equivalentl principles may be used and structuralchanges may be made astdesired by those skilled in the art'without'departing In the drawings: A Y Y f Fig-1 is a perspective viewof a buckle embodying the principles of Vmy invention showing the bucklemounted on a seat belt being used i-n an automobile, or the like; 1 Fig2`is a top plan'view ofthe buckle shown in Fig. l;

Fig.3 is a side elevational view of the buckle shownV in Fig. 2; L

Fig.'4 is'a'longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along theline 4 4 in Fig. 2, but with parts of the buckle shown in differentposition;

Fig. 5 is -a detail section view taken substantially along i Fig. 10 isa top plan'view, somewhat similar to Fig. but showing another modifiedform ofmy invention, and

having certain parts broken away so as to show underf;

easilyengagedwith thebeltin proper holding posi ti on 4" Anotherolnjectof my invention .is to reduceswear,and. ir/eakening of safety belts andthe` like, by `the buckles used to hold the two ends ofthe safety/,beltstogether.

Yet vanother' object of my` inventionis to afford a novel belt `of the aforernentionedA type .wherein, inlvthe operation thereof, the belt toLbellieldjisgripped Vthereby in a manner to minimize wear. oiitheV beltlsoheld.

' Another object vofmyy invention isto insurethreaiding ofa beltin theproper'manner in to a buckle ofthe vafore-- lmention'ed type. ,ffm

A further object of my mvention isfto 'provide a' novel buckleoflth'eaforementioned type whichembodies mechanism thereinV constitutedM andVarrangedv in a novel, and

xpeditious manner, to ,effectively vj preventf"irriproper,

` 'buckle o f the aforementioned,typefwhich may embody handleconstituted-rand'.arraiiged Ain a novel and expev Sliwi?? the-buckleshown in different positions; "P1

along the line v1'1'-1'}' yin Fig. `15; f Fig, 1 8 is a top planview,somewhat-similar to Fig. 1 0

y Fig.- 1 2` is, a longitudinal sectional View taken sfubstanr with'Para 0f' Eig.f13 is asectional vien/"taken substantially" alngl theline 13-13 in Fig. 12;* if

etFig. 14 is `a sectional-view taken substantially along vthe line144-14 in Fig. 12;

l-:ig: 1.5 is an enlarged sectional view ofia'portion of thebuckle'showninrFigrlZ; j t

Fig.f16; is ajdetail sectional viewtaken alongzthe line 1169-16 in Eig:l5; Y'

vFig.v17lis a detail sectional viewtaken substantially l butshowinganothertmodied form-ofmy invention;

in Eig;

, .,-Fig. :19 isa side elevational View of the` buckleshownsubstantially line 20720 in Fig. 18, but with parts thereof shown dis,-posed in different positions;

Fig. 2l is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along theline 21-21 in Fig. 18;

Fig. 22 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 22-22 inFig. 19;

Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 23-23 inFig. 19;

Fig. 24 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 24-24 inFig. 19; and

Fig. 25 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 25-25 inFig. 19.

To illustrate the principles of my invention, a buckle 20, comprisingone embodiment of my invention is shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive ofthe drawings.

' The buckle 20 embodies, in general, two substantially 'parallelelongated side rails 22 and 23, having two end bars 25 and 26 and thetwo slide bars 28 and 29 extending therebetween, a handle 31, affordinga camming lever for moving the slide bar 28 away from the end bar 25,being pivotally mounted on the end bar 25, all of which will bediscussed in greater detail hereinafter, Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

The buckle 20 is particularly well adapted to releasably secure togetherthe two ends of a safety belt, or the like, such as the ends 41 and 42of the belt B shown in the drawings.

Normally, in the use of safety belts, seat belts, and the like, one endportion of each end of the belt such as, for example, the end portions41b and 42b of the ends 41 and 42 of the belt B, Fig. l, are attached tosuitable securing members, such as brackets 44 and 45, secured to asuitable frame member of the vehicle in which the belt is being used.The free end portions of the ends of such a belt, such as, for example,the free end portions 41c and 42e of the ends 41 and 42 of the belt B,are preferably releasably secured together in such position that whenthe belt is fastened around a wearer thereof, in normal position of use,the buckle or other securing member, connecting the two free endportions of the belt together is disposed directly in front of thewearer. In order that such a belt may be adjusted in size to properlyiit users thereof of different sizes, and properly dispose the buckle inthe aforementioned preferred position, it is desirable that both ends ofthe belt, such as the ends 41 and 42 of the belt B, be adjustablymounted in the buckle, and with my novel buckle 20 adjustment of bothends of the belt being held thereby may be quickly and easilyaccomplished as will be discussed ingreater detail presently.

Also, it has been found that in order to afford a practical seat belt orsafety belt for use in automobiles, airplanes, and the like, the belt,when closed, should be capable of withstanding forces of at least threethousand pounds, which means, of course, that the buckle securing theends of the belt together must be capable of with-Y standing such aforce without vappreciable slipping and without cutting or otherwiseweakening thebelt in such a manner as to cause the belt to break whensubjected'to such a force. With` my novel invention, I have afforded abuckle which may be readily constructed to withstand such forces andwhich does not so cut or weaken the belt being secured togetherthereby.

In addition, it is desirable that 'a buckle being used to hold togetherthe two ends of a seat belt, safety belt, or

K the like, be quickly andeasily manually releasable by the exertion ofnot more than forty'pounds of force even under the extreme condition ofthe belt supporting the full weight of an adult, such as, for example,when an adult is suspended thereby in upside down position. This is, ofcourse, so that a relatively weakper'son such as, for example, a child,or an adult who has been weakened by injury, or the like, canquicklyjandeasily free'himself,

' germes safety belt, lor the. like, for securely holding the, ends ofsuch a belt together, but which may quickly and easily be released bythe manual exertion of relative-ly little force when it is desiredtorelease the belt, even under such emergency conditions, as will bediscussed in greater detail presently.

The side rails 22 and 23:0f therbuckle 20 may be made of any suitablematerialN such as, for example, sheet steel, and each side rail has twosubstantially straight, elongated, longitudinally'aligned slots 22a and22b, and 23a and 23b, respectively, formed in the opposite end portionsthereof and terminating in spaced relation to each other and to the endsof the side. rails 22 and 23, Figs. 3 and 4. The slots 22a and 22b, and23a and 23h, respectively, extend along the longitudinal center lines ofthe side rails 22 and 23, respectively, with the two slots 22a and 22b,and 23a and 23b in each of the side rails 22 and 23 terminating at theirinner ends in spaced relation to each other, and terminating at theirouter ends in adjacent, but spaced relation-to the end rails 25 and26,*respectively.

The slide bar 28 may be made -of any suitable material such as, forexample, steel, and embodies an elongated substantially cylindricalshaped body portion 28a, preferably having a knurled outer surface S,Fig. 2, and two flat substantially rectangular shaped end portions 23hand 28e projecting from the opposite ends thereof. The slide bar 28extends between the side rails 22 and 23, with the body portion 28athereof disposed between the side rails22 and 23 and the end portions28b and 28e extending outwardly through the slots 22a and 23a,respectively, Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The slots 22a and 23a are of such widththat the ends 28b and 28e of the slide bar 28 are held against rotationtherein but are freely slidable longitudinally thereof.

Similarly, the slide bar 29 may be made of any suitable material suchas, for example, steel and embodies an elongated substantiallycylindrical shaped central body portion 29a, and preferably having aknurled outer surface S, Fig. 2, and two llat substantially rectangularshaped end portions 29b and 29e, the slide bar 29 being mounted betweenthe side rails 22 and 23 with the end portions 2band 29C thereofextending through the slots 22b and 231), respectively, in the samemanner that the end portions 2Gb and 28e of the slide bar 28 aredisposed in the slots 22a and 23a.

The end bar 25 embodies a substantially cylindrical shaped body portion33 disposed between the side rails t 22 and 2s with the opposite ends ofthe body portion 33 disposed in abutting engagement with the inner facesof the lside rails 22 and 23, respectively, Figs. '2 and 6, thc bodyportion 33' also preferably having a knurled peripheral surface K, asbest shown in Fig. 2. riwo rivets 35 and 36 extend through the siderails 22 and 23 and are secured in the opposite end portions of the bodyportion 33 to thereby non-rotatably secure the body portion 33`inposition betweenthe'side rails 22 and 23. Two

. annular shaped bearing members 3 and 39 made or' vsuitable materialsuch as, for example, bronze er steel,

are mounted on the rivets 35 and 36 between the heads thereof'and theside rails 22`and 23, respectively, Fig. 6.

The end bar26 Vis similar in shape and construction tothe end bar 25,and is'mounted between the other end portion o f the' side rails 22 and23 in parallel relation to thev end .bar 2,5. The end bar 26 isnon-rotatably se- 'or another person in the event of an emergency; WithAcured in position between the side rails 22 and 23 'by tworivets37andv40, Fig. 2.

` .klhe handle k31 is substantially U-shaped, having anelongate'drintermediate leg 31avfrom the opposite ends of whichprojecttwo elongated substantially parallel end legs 31band 31C, Fig. 2. Thefree'end portions of the end legs 31b and 31e .are journalled, onthebearing members 33 and 39, respectively, between the side rails 22and23, andthe heads 'of the rivets 35 and 36, respectively,n Eig. ,6,"lihefree` endedges ySJldL'jand 31e of the legs '311:' and 31e,respectively, of' the hand1e`3'1, Figs; 3

and 4, .are preferably perpendicular to the length of the legs 31b and31C, and aredisposed at such a distane from the rivets 35 and 36 that,when the handle 31 is disposed in position wherein the legs 31b and 31care substantially parallel to the side rails 22 and 23, Figs. 2 and 3,the free end edges 31d and 31e are disposed adjacent to but outwardly ofthe vouter ends of the slots 22a and 23a, respectively.

The slots 22a and 23a are so disposed in the side rails 22 and 23,respectively, that the outer'ends thereof terminate sufficiently closeto the end bar that the slide bar 28 may be moved outwardly along theslots the side rails 22 and 23, under the body portion 28a ofv .theslidebar 28, and then upwardly around the body 'portion 28a and downwardlybetween the body portion 28a and the end bar 25V and then outwardly ofthe side rails 22 and 23. With the free end portion 41C of the `belt B'threaded in this manner around the slide bar 28,

ttension applied to the end portion 41b of the belt is Aeffective toslide the slide bar 28outwardly into position to clampthe portion of thebelt B disposed between the slide bar 23 and the end bar 25 against theend -fbar 25 to thereby hold theend portion 41 of the belt B '..frombeing withdrawn from the buckle 20. When it is- .desired to release theend portion 41 of the belt B from ithe buckle 20, this may be readilyaccomplished by pulling upwardly on the intermediate leg 31a of thelhandle 31, to thereby rotate'the handle 31 in a clockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 3, from its normal position, wherein it is disposed insubstantially parallel relation to the Vside rails 22 and 23, as shownin Fig. 3, to its lrelease position wherein the intermediate leg 31a 'isdisposed upwardly from the side rails 22 and 23, as shown in Fig. 4.This `movement of the handle 31 "from its normal position to itsrelease' position is effective t0 rotate the legs 3lib and 31C thereofon the bearings 3S and 39 so that the upper portions of the `free en ds31d and 31e of the legs 31h. and 31c aremo-ved inwardly along the siderails 22 and 23 into position to4 effectively cam the end portions. 2gband 28e respectively, of the `slide bar 2S inwardly along the slots22aVand 23a, respectively. The upper end portions ofthe free vends of the llegs 31h andA 31e lare of lsuch length that when the handle. 31 isdisposedy in its release position .as shown in Fig. 4, the slide bar 28`is cammed inwardly by the free ends of the legs 31b and 31e of :thehandle 31 al sufiicient distance that the free end portion 41C of thebelt B maybe readily pulled from the buckle 20.`

` In most instances, belts such as, for example, Ythebelt B, used asseatbelts, safetyrbelts or the like, have tips on the free end portionthereof such' as the tip 41a Vshown in the drawings, made of suitablematerial such as, for example, steel, or the like, with the tip having aconsiderably greater width than thickness. In order to lassure that abelt, such as the belt B, may be quickly and effectively released fromthe buckle 20, I have found that the handle 31 should be effective, whenin the aforevdistance not lless than the width of Ysuch a tip. Thus, forexample, if the width ofthe tip 41a of the belt B is one- 'quarter of aninch,-and the thicknessV thereof is one eighth of an inch, the legs 31band 31e of the handle -31 should be so positioned relative to the rivets35 and 36 that the free, ends 31d and 31e are effectiver tocam the-lslide bar 28 away from the end b ar 25 a distance not less thanaquarter of an inch4 when the handle 31 is dis- '.psed in releaseposition.

Also, itis desirable that the handle 31 be capable of being manuallymoved to release position by the exertion of a force of forty pounds,orless, thereon even when the buckle 20 isl holding a belt whichissupporting the full weight of a person using the same such as, forexample, when a person is suspended thereby in upsidedown position. Thismay be readily accomplished by properly proportioning the distances ofthe'camming surfaces afforded by the free ends ,31d and 31e of the legs31b and' 31C from the `longitudinal centers of the rivets 35 and 36,respectively, to the distance of the intermediate leg 31a of the handle31 from the longi tudinal center lines ofthe rivets 35 and 36. 1

So that the buckle 20 may be readily disposed in centered position on auser thereof, I prefer to secure the end 42 ofthe belt B with anadjustable connection. In

vthe form of my novel invention shown in the accompanying drawings, thisis accomplished by threading the free end portion 42c of the end 42'ofthe belt B inwardly between the side rails 22 and 23, below the slidebar 29 and then upwardly aroundthe body portion 29a of the slide bar 29and downwardly between the slide bar 29 and the end bar 26, and thenoutwardly from theside rails 22 and 23, all of Athis, threadingoperation being performed before the tip A42ais mounted on the end 42 ofthe belt B. The outer ends of the slots 22b and 23b are disposedsufliciently close to the end bar 26 that 'the slide bar 29 may be movedoutwardly along the slots 22b and 23b into Yabutting engagement with theend bar 26, when no belt B is vdisposed therebetween, and is of suchlength as toreadily permit the threadingV of the end portion 42C of theend `42 of the beltvB between the slide bar 29 and` therend bar 26 inthe aforementioned manner when no tip is disposed on the free endportion 42e ofthe end 42. After the free en d portion 42c"of theend 42of the belt B has thus been threaded between the slide bai- 29 and theend bar 26y atip 42a may be mounted on the free end'portion 42e whichlis of'such width Vand thickness that it may-not'be withdrawn betweenthe slide bar 29 and the end bar 2 6 even when the slide bar 29 isdisposed in its innermost position 'in the slots 22b.'V and 23b.v This,it will be seen, affords an effective adjustment for the length of theend Y42 of the belt B but prevents the buckle 20 from being entirelyremoved therefrom. Also, it affords a practical of an inch` and athicknessof one-eighth of aninch, Aend barsY 25 and 26, and slide bars28 and 29 having'a diameter of three-eighths of an inch affordeiectivesecur- Ying members forl the belt B which are sufficiently widethat Vthey do not cut the belt or excessively bend the.

latter. Y

In Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings a buckle 20A is shown which comprises amodified form of my invention. The buckle 20A is of the sameconstruction as the buckle 20, shown in Figs. l to 7, inclusive, exceptthat two torsion springs 51 andV 52 are mounted around the opposite endYportions of the body portion 33 of"the e nd bar 25 between theshoulders33b and 33e, formed at the opposite ends thereof, and the siderails 22-and 23, "respectively, and arpin 54 is mounted in and projectsoutwar'dly from the side rail 22 below the leg 31b'of the handle 31 Vinpositionto engage the leg `311g and Vthereby limit the rotation,A of theVhandle 31 in a counter-clockwise direc- `tion as viewed`in Fig. 8.

One end51a and 52a `of each of the s'pi'inmgsS-l and 52, respectively,vis secured in the upper edge portion of 'the side rails' 22 and`23,respectively. Similarly, Athe Vother end 51b and 52b of the spring 51and 52 is mounted the pin 54. Such construction tends to hold the handle31 in closer relation to the body of the persons wearing the same so asto insure that it does not afford an objectionable outward protuberance.When it is desired to release the buckle 20A, .it is merely necessary tomanually rotate the handle 31.in a clockwise direction lfromtheposition'shown in Fig. 8 in the same manner asy heretoforediscussedwith respect to thebuckle 20, the onlydifference being that in sorotating the handle 31 Yof the -buckle"20A,.suicient additional forcemust be exerted to overcome the relatively light force exerted bythetorsion springs 51 and 52 on the handle 31.

The modified form ofmy buckle which I have shown in Figs. l to 17,inclusive, Voperates on the same prin- Vciple as the preferred. form` ofthe buckle illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7,inclusive,.and like referencenumerals have been used onv likepartS, and same reference` numerals withthe prefixlhave been used on parts which are similar but which have beensubstituted for parts of the preferred' form .of my.inven`tion. All .ofthe changes :made in themodified form of my invention over thepreferred-form.as.{shown .are -embodied in the casing vandthe beltYguiding structureembodied in this modified Vformof my invention. It willbe noted that the changes made in the modified form of my inventioncomprise the following: A cover .61 has been added thereto and a guideplate 63 having a guardplate 65 rpivotally mounted therein is disposedwithin the-cover member 61 for a purpose which will be discussed ingreatervdetail presently. v

The cover .61 embodies a top -wall 67, a front wall 68 and a rear wall69,.and is open substantially throughout its bottom, Figs.-10, Y11 and12. The cover 61 may bc made of `any-suitable material, such as, forexample, sheet steel, and is preferably made of such size and shape thatit fits snugly between the side rails 22 and 23, with the outer faces ofthe walls 67'-69 extending between theside rails 22 and 23 insubstantially the same planes `as the adjacent corresponding top and endedge portions, so asrto afford a relatively smooth buckle 120.

projecting inwardly therefrom in parallel spacedrelation to each other,Figs..10, 12 and 13. The ears68a and 69a, .and theears 68b and 6912Y aredisposed in parallel juxtaposition to opposite ends. of the inner facesof the side rails 22V and 23, respectively. At the one end of the buckle120 the ears 69a and 69h of the cover 61 are secured in position betweentheopposite .ends of the end ,barv 26 ,and the side rails 22-and 23,respectively, by therivets 37 and 40 which extend through the side rails22` .and .23, respectively, into the ends of the end bar `26.At-,theother [end of the buckle 120,.the ears 68a,and 68h. are.similarly secured in position between the .opposite ends of the end bar25 and the side rail 22 and 23, respectively, vby the rivets 35 and 36,Fig. V10.,

The guide plate 63 may be made of any suitable material such, as, forexample, sheet steel, and embodies two substantially fiat, parallelendportions 71 and 72, interconnectedvby a-substantially arcuate shapedintermediate portion`73, Fig."'12.` vThe guide plate 63 is of such sizeand shape that it may fit between the side walls 22 and L231withinthe'coverlalgtwith the end portion172 extend- 'ng betweenthetlowen edgeportions of I the.A side r rails 22 and 23, and with the end portion 71and the inter-y .mediate portion 73..disposed thereabove within thecover v:Two ears 72a and 72b project upwardly from opposite sides oftherear end portionV 72 of the guide plate63,

Figs. 10, 12 and 13,and are disposed in juxtaposition '72a and"72b,respectively, to thereby secure the rear end portion 72 of the guideplate 63 in position between the side railsV 22S-and 23.

At the other end of the guide plate 63, two ears 71a and 71b projectdownwardly from opposite sides of the end portion 71 thereof, and aredisposed in juxtaposition to the inner faces of the ears 68a and 68h,respectively, between the latter and adjacent ends of the end bar 25..The rivets 35 and 36 extend through the ears 71a and 71b, respectively,to thereby secure the front end portion 71 of the guide plate 63 betweenthe sideY rails 22 and 23.

The guide plate 63 is of such size and shape that when it is mounted innormal position between the side rails 22 and 23, the front end portion71 thereof is disposed ina plane above the end bar 25 and the slide bar23, with the intermediate portion 73 `of the guide plate 63 curvedaround the slide bar 28 in spaced relation thereto to thereby afford asubstantially arcuate shaped passageway 75, Fig. 12, between theintermediate portion 73 and the slide bar 2S. It will be seen that thepassageway 75 opens downwardly at one end through the open bottom of thebuckle between the slide bar 28 and the slide bar 29, and that at theother end thereof, the passageway 75 opens into the space between theslide bar 28 and the end bar` 2S.

A substantially yrectangular shaped opening 77 is formed in the frontportion of the intermediate portion 73 of the guide plate 63, Figs. 10,12, 15, and 16, and two ears 78 and 79 project upwardly from theintermediate portion 73 in substantially parallel relation to eachVother at opposite ends of the opening 77, Figs. 16 and 17. A' pin 81 ismounted in and extends between the ears 78 and 79, and the guard plate65 is journalled on an?1 gepends from the pin 81 between the ears 73 an9.

The guard plate 65, Figs. 10, 12, 16 and 17, embodies an elongatedfinger 83 which may be made of any suitable material such as, forexample, a substantially rectangular shaped piece of sheet steel, andhas a collar 84 secured along one longitudinal edge thereof by suitablemeans vsuch as, for example, welding, Figs. 16 and 17. The pin 81extends through the collar 84, and the collar S4 is disposed between theears 78 and 79 in `spaced relation thereto.

Two torsion springs 86 and 37 are mounted on the pin 81 and are engagedwith the top face of the intermediate portion 73 of the guide plate 63and the front face of the finger 83 of the guard plate 65, Figs. 15 and16, `in position to urge the guard plate 65 to rotate on the pin 81 in aclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. l5.

As is best seen in Figs. 15, 16 and 17, the guard plate 65 is so mountedon the pin S1 that it extends downwardly through theopening 77 intoposition between the slide bar 2K and the end bar 25. The torsionsprings 86 and 87 are so mounted on the pin Si, and are so engagedbetween the guide plate 63 and the guard finger 83, that the finger 83is urged thereby toward the slide bar 28. The finger 83 is of such widththat when no external forces are being applied thereto, the lower edgeportion thereof is held in engagement with the outer face of the slidebar 28 in all positions of the latter, Fig. 12.

With this construction it will be seen that it would be .impossiblefor'an-operator to feed aibelt such as'the ...belt B. upwardlybetweentheslide bar `2.3 andv the end bar 25 into the forward endportion of the passageway V75, the guard plate 65 etfectivelyblockingthe passageway 75 against such insertion of the belt. However, anoperator may feed the belt B upwardly between the slide bars 28 and 29,forwardly of the guide plate 63, so that the belt B moves longitudinallyalong the passageway 75. the passageway 75 engages the guard finger 83,and is effective to pivot the latter in a counter-clockwise direction,as viewed in Figs. 12 and 15, against the urging of springs 86 and 87towards the open position shown in broken lines in Fig. 15, wherein thelower edge of the `finger 83 is disposed in engagement with theouterperipheral surface of the end bar 25, to thereby `open the front end ofthe passageway 75, and permit the belt B to pass on therefrom,downwardly between the slide bar `28'and the end bar 25, and out throughthe open bottom of the cover 61, Fig. 12.-

l When a belt such as the belt B has been so threaded into the novelbuckle 120, and with the handle 31 disposed in normal at rest positionas shown in Fig. 11, it will be seen that tension on the main bodyportion of the end portion 41 thereof is effective to move the slide bar`2.8 forwardly along the slots 22a and 23a into position to clamp the`end portion 41 of' thebelt B against the rear. face of the end bar 25,Fig. 11, as previously discussed The leading end of a belt being thusfed through withrespect to the preferred form of my invention shown inFigs.i1 to 7., inclusive. i Y

t When it is desired to release the buckle 120 from the end Vportion 41yof the belt B, the handle 31 may be manually pulled forwardly into VtheVposition shown in Fig. {12 to thereby moveV the slide bar 28 to releaseposil position such. as shown in broken linesV in Fig-lS,

affords substantially an extension of the inner face of theintermediateportion 73 of thefguide plate 63.

,Als,oitvwill be noted that the guard plateV 65"is so constructed, andso positioned-in my novel buckle 1.20 that it,alfords an effective guidefor guiding `the free end of the1end portion 41 of the beltBdownwardlybetwee'n the'` bars 2,5. and 28, during threading of theendtportion 41 into the VYbuckle 12,0,fand `that itqwillride freely onthe end portion `41 during withdrawal of the latter from the buckle 120.Y t. A :@Witb the buckle 120`constructed` asshown in Figs, 10

i to 17, l'inclusive,'it willbe seen that a buckle embodying theYprinciples of myk invention is afforded which `may be quickly.Yandeasily threaded in the properdiretionby an operator, iaud` which iseffectively protected againstv `improperA threading by the operator.advantage not only'or` affording la covered buckle, but

not -be' improperly Hence, i it has the' also affording abuckle whichmaythreaded in the use thereof. i*

u The .modified form ofmy `novel buckle which I have shown inFigs. 18to25, inclusiveyoperates on the same principle; asl the .preferred formof `my buckle illustrated in Figs. l ,to 7, inclusive, and `on the sameAprinciple as themodifiedfromofV my buc1 1e`i11ustrateain rigs. 1o

. vtok `17,i1'1clusiv`e andglikefrefere'nce numerals yhave'gbeen t usedon-like parts, and the same reference numerals with thepreiixyrZhavebeen `used on parts which arelsimilar v but`V` which have, beensubstituted for parts ofthehotherl v, formsgofimy invention.` rAllaofthe changes made inv 'this `latter modifiedformbfmy'rinvention'over-.the firstl i described `formandjtheaforer-nentionedw other modified formarein the` cov'erjand inthe-operating mechanism f for r easing the slide bar28;1,beingtedinllett'thechangesfrnadcjin.themodified il l formfmyinventiomshownjn Figs.18fto2j5inclusive, l

over the 'form' offny inventiomshown in `ljigs. 10: -to.1'7,

.1 0 t somewhat modified in form, the handle 31 has been eliminated, andtwo camming levers 91 and 92, Figs. 18, 19, 20, 24 and 25, actuated bythe cover 261, are afforded for moving the slide bar 28 to releaseposition.

The covrer 261 embodies a top wall 267, which is of such size that itprojects laterally and longitudinally outwardly past the side rails 22and 23, Figs. 18, 24 and 25. The cover 261 also includes a front wall268 and a rear wall 269 which are disposed forwardly and rearwardly ofthe side rails 22 and 23, respectively. In addition, the cover 261includes two side walls 93 and 94 which are disposed outwardly of andparallel to the side rails 22 and 23, respectively. d

The cover 261 is pivotally mounted on the side rails 22-and 23, therivets 37 and 4t) extending through the rear end portions of the sidewalls 93 and 94, and spacer members 37a and 40a being disposed on therivets 37 and 40, respectively, between the side walls 93 and 94 and theside rails 22 and 23, Fig. 25, 1

The cam levers 91 and 92 are identical in construction, and each issubstantially L-shaped, having a long leg 91a and 92a, and a short leg91b and 92b, respectively, Figs. 18, 19 and 20. The cam levers 91 and 92are pivotally mounted on the outer faces of the front end portions ofthe side rails 22 and 23 by rivets 95 and 96, which extend through thejunctions of the legs 91a and 91h, and the legs 92a and 9211, into thesiderails 22 and V23, respectively. The rivets 95V and 96 are preferablydis posed substantially vertically above the longitudinal center line ofthe end ba'r 25.

Two pins 91e and 92e project outwardly from the cam levers 91 and 92through substantially L-shaped slots 97 and 98, formed in the side walls9,3 and 94 of the cover 261, respectively. The slots 97-and 98 have anormally substantially vertically disposed leg 97a and 98a and anormally substantially horizontally disposed leg 97b and 98h, projectingforwardly therefrom, respectively. When the cam levers 91 and 92 aredisposed in normal position, with the cover 261 disposed in normalclosed position as shownn solid lines in Fig. 19, the legs 91h and 92bproject substantially vertically downwardly from the rivets 95 and 96,respectively, and the legs 91a and 92a project substantiallyhorizontally rearwardly from therivets95 and 96.V With the cam levers 91and 92 disposed in these positions,A and with the cover 261 distheslidebar 28 is free to'be moved forwardly into abut,-

ting position relativeto'therend bar 25. Hence, when a belt such as thebelt B`is,then threaded around the slide bar 28, within the guide plate63, the slide bar 28 may be pulled forwardly by tension on the belt Binto position to clamp the belt B against the end bar 25, Fig. 19.

Whenv it is desired to release the belt Bfrorn such clamping engagementvbetween the slide bar 28 and the end bar 25, the cover 261 may bemanually pivoted upwardly into the po'sition shown in broken lines inFig. 19, wherein the pins 91eV and 92e are disposed at the junctionofthe I egs 97a and4 9711, and thelegs 98g and 98b, respectively, of theslots 97 and 98. lt will be noted, inthis connection, that the legs 97aand 98h are somef what arcuate in shape, so that during this upwardpivotal v movementl vof* the cover 261, the pins 91e and92c freelymove'alongthe slots 97a and 98a.f` When the cover 261 is disposed inthis partially'raised position, it will be noted that the front endportion thereof Vsrlisposedfabove thetop edge ofthe side plates 22 andYV23 so that the operators Vfingers may be readilydisposed beneath thefront end potrionsofthe cover-261 to. afford a firm grip thereon.`Thereafter, theoperator may concover 261, to thereby pivot the cover 261from the partially open position shown in broken lines in Fig. 19 intothe fully open position shown in Fig. 20. During this latter movement ofthe cover 261, the pins 91C and 92e are in engagement Vwith the loweredges of the legs'97b and 98b of the slots 97 and 98, so that the sidewalls 93 and 94 are effective to pivot the cam Vlevers 91 and 92 in aclockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 19 to the positionshown in Fig. 20, the pins 91cand 92C moving along the legs 97b and 98bof the slots 97 and 98, respectively. During this pivotal movement ofthecam levers 91 and 92, the free end portions'of the legs 91b and 92bthereof are pivoted rearwardly into engagement with the forward orleading edge of the ears 28h and 28C `on the slide bar 28 to thereby camthe slide bar 28 rearwardly in the slots 22a and 23a, respectively, andrelease the belt B from the clamped engagement between the slide bar 28and the end bar 25 and free it for withdrawal from the buckle 220.

Thereafter, where it is desired to again thread the belt B into thebuckle 220, the cover 261 may be moved into normally closed position tothereby pivot the cam levers 91 and 92 into the aforementioned normalposition shown in Fig. 19. The belt B may then be fed upwardly throughthe passageway 75, Vbetween the guide plate 63 and the slide bar 2S, anddownwardly between the slide bar 28 and the end bar 25. In thisposition, tension on the belt B is effective to again clampingly engagethe free end portion 41 thereof between the slide bar 28 and the endbar'25.

It will be seen that the buckle 220, shown in Figs. 18 to 25, inclusive,affords a novel, practical, covered buckle which may be quickly-andeasily actuated to release a belt being held thereby, and which ispleasing in appearance and relatively compact Vand small in size.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have afforded a novel buckle`which may be quickly andeasily attached to a seat belt, or the like, inposition to effectively hold the belt.

Also, it will be seen that I have afforded a novel buckle which may bequickly and easily released from such a belt.

Also, it will be seen that I have afforded a novel buckle of theaforementioned type which is efficient and effective in operation andmay be readily and economically produced commercially.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment ofmy invention, it is to be understood that this is'capable of variationand modification.

l. A buckle comprising an elongated supporting'member, means forattaching the opposite end portions of an elongated strap to theopposite ends of said supporting member, said means including two crossbars mounted in the supporting member in position to clampingly engageone end portion of said strap therebetween, and means for moving one ofsaid cross bars away from the other to release said one end portion ofthe strap, said moving means comprising Va handle member pivotallymounted on the supporting member iniposition to. overlie outwardly. ofthe supporting rmember-said one end portion of thestrap when the latteris so clampingly en. gaged by said cross bars, said means for attachingsaid straps to said supporting Vmember yincluding arcuate shaped guidemeans mounted in said supporting means around said one cross bar and inspaced relation thereto, and stop means mounted in said'supportingmemberf in position to blockingly engage said strap when said strap isinserted .between said cross bars in one direction an-d to guidinglyengage Vsaid strap when said strap is inserted between said cross'barsIin another direction'to thereby guide said strap around said-one crossbari intov position to be "so clampingly engaged between said crossbars. p M

2. 1A buckle compr-isingfan elongated supportingmem'- 'germes ber,-rneans for attaching the opposite end portions of -an elongated strapto the opposite ends of said supporting member, said means including twocross bars mounted -in the supporting member in position to clampinglyengage one end portion of said strap therebetween, and means for movingone of said cross bars away from the other to release said one endportion of the strap, said moving means comprising a handle memberpivotally mounted on the supporting member in position to overlieoutwardly of the supporting member said one end portion of the strapwhen the latter is so clampingly engaged by said cross bars, said meansfor moving one of said cross bars including two levers connected to saidhandle member, said levers being pivotally mounted on opposite sides ofsaid supporting member in position to be moved by said handle intoposition to operatively rengage said one cross bar and move the latteraway from the other of said cross bars.

3. A buckle comprising two elongated members, means holding said membersin substantially parallel relation, said means including a first crossbar extending between the members and carried by one end portionthereof, each of the members having a substantially straight elongatedslot therein extending inwardly away from said first cross barlongitudinally of the member, a second cross bar extending between themembers non-rotatably mounted to slide in said slots between a clampingposition and a releasing position and having opposite end portionsprojecting outwardly through the slots, said second cross bar in saidreleasing position being disposed relative to said first cross bar topermit threading of a flexible belt around the second cross bar andbetween the cross bars and in said clamping position being disposedrelative to the first cross bar to clamp such a belt against the firstcross bar, lever means including a pair of lever elements pivotallymounted on the members for movement between a normal and an actuatedposition each lying outwardly of one of the members and having an endportion engageable with the adjacent end portion of the second cross barduring movement of the lever means from said normal position to saidactuated position for camming the second cross bar to said releasingposition, said lever element end portions extending in spaced relationto said bar endportions in Ysaid normal lever means position, meansvconnecting the other end portions of the llever elements forcorresponding movement thereof to effect movement of the lever meansbetween saidv positions, and spring means connected to said lever meansand said members in position to urge saidlever means toward said normalposition. l

4. A buckle as defined in claim 3 and which said lever means comprises asubstantially U-shaped handle hav# ing two free end portions pivotallymounted on opposite ends of the first cross barand said sprnig meansincludes two torsion springs connected tosaid handle and said members inposition to yieldingly'urge said handle toward s'ad normal position, andabutment means on at least one of said members in position to stoppinglyengage said handle when the latter is disposed in said normal position.l Y

5. A buckle comprising an elongated frame, means on opposite ends ofsaid frame for attaching respective oppositeends of a belt to the frame,said means at one end of the frame including two-elongated barsfmountedin and projecting transversely acrossthe iframe, one of said bars'beingmovablev longitudinally of the frame in the. plane of the bars'towardand away from Vthe other bar into and out of position clamping one endportion of such a belt-'against the other bar', Vmeans 'for' moving theone bar away from the other 4bar into position releasing such a belt'from clamped engagement lwith the other bar, -said moving meanscomprising earnv means pivotallyvmournted V"on the framefadjacentfslaidonebar including -a 'p'air of lever elements each 'adjacent a 'side'ofthe frame, each of said lever elements-having an end portion engageablewith the one bar'for camminglymoving the bar to said release positionupon pivotal movement of the cam means, said lever'elements beingpivotally mounted on the frame, and a cover member for said framepivotally mounted on the latter and connected to said lever elements.

6. A buckle comprising a housing, means in said housing defining a`passageway in said housing for receiving an end portion of a exiblebelt therethrough, said means including a guide plate, an end barmounted in said housing, and a slide bar mounted in said housing betweensaid guide plate and said end bar in substantially parallel relation tothe latter, said guide plate and said slide bar defining one end portionof said passageway, said guide plate and said end bar defining anotherend portion of said passageway, said slide bar being movable toward andaway from said end bar into and out of position to clamp such an endportion of a belt against said end bar, and means on said housing formoving said slide bar away from said end bar.

7. A buckle comprising a housing, means in said housing defining apassageway in said housing for receiving an end portion of a flexiblebelt therethrough, said means including a guide plate, an end barmounted in said housing, a slide bar mounted in said housing betweensaid guide plate and said end bar in substantially parallel relation tothe latter, said guide plate and said slide bar defining one end portionof said passageway, said guide plate and said end bar vdefining anotherend portion of said passageway, said slide bar being movable toward andaway from said end bar into and out of position to clamp such an endportion of a belt against said end bar, and guard means mounted in saidpassageway in position to prevent insertion of said end portion of sucha belt through said passageway from said other portion into said one endportion and to permit insertion of said end portion of such a beltthrough said passageway from said one end portion into said other endportion, and means on said housing for moving said slide bar away `fromsaid end bar.

8. A buckle comprising a housing, means in said housing deiinirig apassageway in said housing for receiving an end portion of a iiexiblebelt therethrough, said means including a guide plate, an end barmounted in said housing, a slide bar mounted in said housing betweensaid guide plate and said end bar in substantially parallel relation tothe latter, said guide plate and said slide bar defining one end portionof said passageway, said guide plate and said end bar defining anotherend portion of said passageway, said slide bar being movable toward andaway from said end bar into and out of position to clamp such an endportion of a belt against said end bar, and a guard plate mounted on anddepending from said guide plate between said bars and pivotable back andforth between said bars, and means connected to said guard plate andyieldingly urging the latter toward engagement with said slide bar intoposition to close said passageway between said end portions thereof, andmeans on said housing for moving said slide bar away from said end bar.

9. A buckle as defined in claim 8 and in which said means for movingsaid slide bar comprises a substantially U-shaped handle having two endlegs pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said housing, said handlebeing pivotable on said housing between a normal position and anactuated position, said legs having end portions engageable with saidslide bar in position to move said slide bar away from said clampingposition relative to said end bar during movement of such handle fromsaid normal position to said actuated position.

10. A buckle as deiined in claim 8 and in which said means for movingsaid slide bar comprises lever means pivotally mounted on said housingand pivotable between a normal position and an actuated position, saidlever means having a portion engageable with said slide bar in positionto move said slide bar away from said clamping position relative to saidend bar during movement of said lever means from said normal position tosaid actuated position, and a portion of said housing pivotable relativeto the remainder of said housing between a normal position and anactuated position, said portion of said housing being pivotallyconnected to said lever means in position to move said lever means fromsaid normal position to said actuated position there of during movementof said portion of said housing from said normal position to saidactuated position thereof.

11. A buckle as dened in claim 10 and in which said portion of saidhousing comprises a cover member including two substantially parallelside walls, and in which said side walls have substantially L--shapedslots therein, and in which said lever means have pins thereon extendinginto said slots, and in which said slots are so disposed in saidsidewalls that during the initial movement of said cover member fromsaid normal position to said actuated position thereof one leg of eachof said slots moves longitudinally past a respective one of said pinswithoutmoving said lever means, and during con-4 tinued movement of saidcover member toward said actuated position thereof each of said pinsmoves along the other leg of a respective one of said slots in adirection whereby said lever means are pivoted from said normal positionto said actuated position thereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

